Dispensing valve for collapsible containers



Sept. 7, 1965 E. A. WESTBERG DISPENSING VALVE FOR GOLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed May 6, 1965 umlum II I I I I I a l INVENTORZ ESTHER A. WESTBERG ATT'YS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,204,820 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 3,204,820 DISPENSING VALVE FOR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Esther A. Westherg, 821 Howard St., Evanston, Ill. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,233 9 Claims. (Cl. 22'22'3) This invention relates in general to a dispensing valve for collapsible containers, and more particularly to a dispensing valve that is useful particularly with the dispensing of fiowable materials such as powders, pastes and fluid materials.

A specific example of use of the present invention would involve the dispensing of toothpaste from a collapsible container wherein the dispensing valve of the present invention is mounted on the container. This valve includes generally a spherical or oval-shaped valve member having a hole extending therethrough and one end of the container being formed partially around the valve member so that rotation of the valve member selectively conditions the valve for opening or closing the container.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dispensing valve for collapsible containers.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a spherically shaped valve member coacting with a shell to define a dispensing valve on one end of a col lapsible container.

Still another object of this invention is in the provision of a dispensing valve for collapsible containers, wherein it is desired to eliminate a removable closure or cap so that the valve and container always remain together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing valve for collapsible containers that are adapted to contain flowable material, wherein the valve includes a spherically or elliptically shaped valve member rotatable in a mating shell that defines the upper end of the container.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective broken view of a container having a dispensing valve mounted thereon in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the valve of FIG. 1 and with some parts broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through a dispensing valve of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view with some parts in full taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 and taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a valve member of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through a dispensing valve including the valve member of the em bodiment of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 land 2, a collapsible container 1t) is shown with a dispensing valve 11 mounted thereon and constructed in accordance with the invention. The dispensing valve 11 includes generally a spherically shaped valve member 12 of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal and may even be constructed of nylon or a similar type material.

The container 10 is closed at one end by means of folded portions 14 or the like, and then provided with the shell 13 at the other end which is formed about the valve member 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 10 includes a circular, reinforced wall 15 immediately adjacent the shell 13. Both the wall 15 and the shell 13 are of a greater thickness than the collapsible portion 16 of the container.

The shell 13 includes diametrically opposed openings 17 and 18 which are aligned along an axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the container 10. Thus the container 10 is necked down at the opening 17 which is arranged between the shell 13 and the interior of the container 10.

The valve member 12 includes an annular groove 19 that mates with annularly arranged indentations 20 formed in the shell 13 so as to orient the rotation of the valve member relative to the shell 13. A rectangularly shaped opening 21 extends through the center of the valve member 12 and is coaxial with the annular groove 19, whereby controlled rotation of the valve member 12 always assures the opening 21 of aligning with the shell openings 17 and 18 so that the dispensing valve is in condition for dispensing the flowable material from the container. Rotation of the valve member 12 so that either end of the hole 21 extending therethrough is not exposed to the upper opening 18 effectively closes the valve to prevent dispensing of fiowable material from the container. The outer surface of the valve member 12 may be roughened to enhance the gripping action thereof and to facilitate rotation of the valve member. Further, the shell 13 may be cut out at opposite sides as indicated by the numeral 22 to further expose an area of the valve member 12 so that it may be easily engaged by the finger of a person opening and closing the valve.

Thus it is seen that this embodiment eliminates the necessity of having a cap that screws on the top of the container wherein the closure of the present invention is self-contained and only needs the work of a person wanting the use the contents for controlling operation of the valve. The person need only engage the valve member 12 with a finger to rotate it to open or closed position. Because of the groove 19 and indentation 20, the valve member 12 always rotates along the same axis.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 differs in that the valve 11A includes an oval or elliptically shaped valve member 23 rotatablyreceived in an elliptically or oval-shaped shell 24 which defines the axis of rotation along the long axis of the valve member. A hole 25 ext-ends along the short axis of the valve member 23'and cuts through the center thereof and may be selectively aligned with the lower and upper diametrically opposed openings 26 and 27 of the shell 24 to condition the valve between open and closed position. As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the opening 25 is tapered or conical in shape wherein the discharge end 25a is intended to be smaller than the inlet end 25b. The container 10A of this embodiment differs slightly from the container in FIG. 1 in that it is oval shaped in cross section adjacent the valve 24. As seen particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the long axis of the container cross section parallels the long axis of the elliptically shaped valve member 23. This embodiment reduces the width of the container as measured along the short axis of the elliptical valve member 23.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 shows a valve generally indicated by the numeral 113 which differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the axis of rotation of the valve member 28 within the shell 29 is determined by parallel extending diametrically opposed flattened faces 30 on the valve member 28 which mate with flattened portions 31 of the shell 29, all of which extend parallel to the longitudinalvaxis .of thecontainer. An opening 32 of rectangular or other shape is also provided in the valve member 28 which must align with the upper opening 33 of the shell 29 to permit dispensing of the material from the container. Inasmuch as the flattened faces 30 on the valve member 28 and the flattened mating surfaces 31 of the shell 29 determine the rotational axis of the valve member, it is not necessary to include the groove and indentation as employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The embodiment of FIGS; 7 and 8 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the valve generally designated by the numeral 11C includes a spherical valve member 33 rotatably received in a mating shell 34; A conically shaped hole 35 is provided through the center of the valve member 33 and through which the flowable material is dispensed when the valve member is in open position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. When the valve is in position as shown in dotted lines for the hole 35, the valve is closed and thereby prevents the dispensing of material from the container B. In this embodiment, there is no groove in the valve member or indentation in the shell, and accordingly no oriented rotation of the valve member 33. Means is provided to properly orient the valve member 33 so that the hole 35 aligns with the upper and lower openings 36 and 37 in the shell 34. This means includes legends 38, FIG. 7, preferably in the form of arrows as shown, which tell the user the necessary direction of movement needed to align the hole 35 with the openings 36 and 37 to condition the valve in dispensing position. Thus when the valve is closed, the arrows are exposed in the upper opening 36 and readily tell the user which direction the valve member must be rotated in order to open the valve. The spherical valve member 33 may also be roughened for facilitating the gripping of the valve member when it is desired to rotate same.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides a dispensing valve for a collapsible container which is simple in construction and involves an absolute minimum number of parts so that the container and valve may be economically and easily constructed. Further, it is seen that the valve may be easily and quickly operated by the user to condition it for dispensing or sealing of the contents within the container.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve member, a substantial surface thereof lying on a sphere, and no portion lying outside said sphere, said member having a hole extending therethrough and aligned with the center thereof, said valve member having an annular groove on its outer surface aligning with the ends of said opening, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow sphere integral with said container and having diametrically opposed openings along a diameter extending in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said container, said hollow spherical portion having inwardly extending ridge means received in said annular groove and aligning with said opposed openings, whereby alignment of said valve member hole with said diametrically opposed openings permits dispensing of flowable material from the container.

2. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve 4 member, a substantial surface thereof lying on a sphere, and no portion lying outside said sphere, said member having a hole extending therethrough and aligned with the center thereof, said valve member having an annular groove on its outer surface aligning with the ends of said opening, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow sphere having diametrically opposed openings along a diameter extending in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said container, said hollow spherical portion having inwardly extending ridge means received in said 7 annular groove and aligning with said opposed openings,

whereby alignment of said valve member hole with said diametrically opposed openings permits dispensing of flowable -material from the container, roughening means on the surface of said valve member, and said hollow spherical portion being integral with said container.

3. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve inember,.a substantial surface thereof lying on a sphere, and no portion lying outside said sphere, said member having a hole extending through the center thereof and opening at diametrically opposed points on the .outer surface thereof, said valve member having an annular groove on its outer surface aligning with the ends of said opening, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow sphere integral with said container and having diametrically opposed openings, and one opening intercommunicating the interior of the container with said valve member and the other opening intercommunicating the valve member with the atmosphere, said hollow spherical portion having inwardly extending ridge means received in said annular groove and aligning with said opposed openings, whereby alignment of one end of said valve member hole with one of said openings aligns the other end of the hole with the other of said openings to thereby permit dispensing of flowable material from the container.

4. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve member, the major portion of the surface thereof lying on a sphere, having a hole extending through'the center thereof and opening at diametrically opposed points on the outer surface thereof, one end of said container being closed and the otherend slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow sphere integral with said container and having diametrically opposed openings, and one opening intercommunicating the interior of the container with said valve member and the other opening intercommunicating the valve member with the atmosphere, and said valve member and hollow spherical portion having coacting groove and ridge means for aligning the rotational movement of said valve member with said hollow sphere so that the ends of the hole will align with said opposed openings.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, and cutout means on said hollow sphere extending transverse said groove.

6. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve member, a substantial surface thereof lying on an ellipsoid, and no portion lying outside said ellipsoid, said member having a hole extending therethrough along the short axis, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow elliptical shell integral with said container and having diametrically opposed openings along the short axis, whereby alignment of said valve member hole with said diametrically opposed openings permits dispensing of flowable material from the container.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, and said container having an oval cross section at the upper end with its long axis paralleling the long axis of the valve member.

8. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing value comprising a smooth-faced valve member, a substantial portion thereof lying on a sphere, and no portion lying outside said sphere, said member having diametrically opposed flat faces, a hole extending through the center of said valve member and having its axis paralleling said faces, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member to define a portion of a spherically-shaped shell integral with said container and having diametrically opposed flat faces mating with the flat faces of said valve member and diametrically opposed openings along an axis parallel to said faces, whereby rotation of said valve member about an axis perpendicular to said faces selectively opens and closes said valve.

9. In combination with a collapsible container for a flowable material, a dispensing valve comprising a valve member, a substantial surface thereof lying on a sphere, and no portion lying outside said sphere, said member having a hole extending therethrough and aligned with the center thereof, said valve member having an annular groove on its outer surface aligning with the ends of said opening, one end of said container being closed and the other end slidably engaging and being formed about said valve member so as to define a portion of a hollow sphere integral with said container and having diametrically opposed openings along a diameter extending in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said container, and legend means on the spherical surface of the valve member pointing the direction of rotation of the valve member to open same when it is in closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,801 3/27 Miller 222-554 X 1,747,550 2/30 Klimberg 222-554 X 1,882,697 10/32 Aldridge 222-554 X 1,963,870 6/34 Scott 222554 X 2,014,066 9/35 Flagg 222554 2,126,815 8/38 Rest 222-554 2,127,424 8/38 Rolle 222-554 2,127,489 8/38 Rest 222-554 2,209,050 7/40 Church 222-554 X 2,301,271 11/42 Gill 222554 2,744,666 5/56 Jacobs et al. 222-554 X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A COLLSPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR A FLOWABLE MATERIAL, A DISPENSING VALVE COMPRISING A VALVE MEMBER, A SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE THEREOF LYING ON A SYPHERE AND NO PORTION LYING OUTSIDE SAID SPHERE, SAID MEMBER HAVING A HOLE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND ALIGNED WITH THE CENTRE THEREOF, SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE ON ITS OUTER SURFACE ALIGNING WITH THE ENDS OF SAID OPENING, ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER BEING CLOSED AND THE OTHER END SLIDABLY ENGAGING AND BEING FORMED ABOUT SAID VALVE MEMBER SO AS TO DEFINE A PORTION OF A HOLLOW SPHERE INTEGRAL WITH SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED OPENINGS ALONG A DIAMETER EXTENDING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID HOLLOW SPHERICAL PORTION HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING RIDGE MEANS RECEIVED IN SAID ANNULAR GROOVE AND ALIGNING WITH SAID OPPOSED OPENINGS, WHEREBY ALIGNMENT OF SAID VALVE MEMBER HOLE WITH SAID DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED OPENINGS PERMITS DISPENSING OF FLOWABLE MATERIAL FROM THE CONTAINER. 